Simple Pleasures

One of the things I do every morning is log onto the app Timehop on my phone.  It is one of my favourites as it pulls from social media posts from that date in past years.  As I usually tweet my blog posts, this one came up for me on Saturday morning.  Kim over at Kimberly Taylor Images had a series called "Simple Moments" and asked for guests to post on certain dates.  This was my post and since we were headed to the cottage that day ~ my words struck a chord with me.  I thought it was one of my best posts, so I thought I would share it again here for you.

Originally published May 30, 2012

I love the quote “you are responsible for your own happiness” so when Kim asked me to write a guest post about finding joy in the simple pleasures I was “in”!

Maybe it has something to do with getting older but I find myself stopping and looking around more often ~ trying to really see my surroundings.  Heading down the dirt road to the cape where the cottage is something I used to take for granted but not anymore.  I call it my little piece of heaven.  Knowing that there have been 5 generations travel on that same route makes me stop and smile ~ 5 ~ that’s amazing to me.

Our rustic little cabin nestled in the woods ~ milled from trees that Dad cut down with his father and brother.  The wood stove is our source of heat ~ perfect for a rainy or foggy night on the bay.  Smelling the fire and hearing the crackle of the flames takes me to a warm cozy place.

Going down the driveway and crossing the road and down the embankment to the beach.  Walking along and finding treasures ~ glass no longer sharp as it has been tumbled by the tides ~ the odd shell ~ and cool rocks of every shape size and color.  Come mid July the sandpipers will arrive ~ feasting on the mudflats while the tide is out and giving us an incredible air show when it comes in.  Grampy always called them the “peeps” ~ I watched them as a child and still sit and watch them in awe of their fluid moves ~ it truly is a site to see.

Not too far up the road is the farm ~ the place where my Dad was born.  I can spend so much time here ~ camera in hand ~ walking and just loving my surroundings.  Wildflowers in the field ~ my grandmother’s big rhubarb patch ~ the old hen house ~ the barn where we used to swing for hours ~ the blueberry fields and the best sliding hill around.  If you listen real hard you can hear music coming from the house ~ guitars and singing as a good old Maritime kitchen party kicks into gear.

They all spark a memory which wrap around me like an old well worn sweater and hug me tight.  That brings joy to my heart and sometimes a tear to my eye.

Other things that bring me joy are my 4 legged fur babies that always make me smile ~ a good book  ~ freshly cut grass ~ flowers blooming and knowing that vacation time is getting closer.

Happy Monday!

Adjusting

Well hello.....

how was your summer?

we have been adjusting ~ it has been a different one for us for sure

but with change comes acceptance

and we move along

we still work and eat and sleep

and rinse and repeat

and somewhere along the line ~ new memories are made

July was a bit of a blur ~ then my cousin called (aka my best girl)

and she wondered if she could come down for a week or so

with her 2 boys for a little vacation

I checked with Trev as did not know if he would be up to company

but he said yes and we had a great time

the first weekend they were here was the last weekend of July

and we had a family gathering

I think the final count was 25 and the only pics I took were of the kids on my phone

do I regret not getting my "big girl" camera out ~ a little

but I had so much fun just chatting with everyone and enjoying the day

we did some fun things during the week then headed to the cape on Friday night

 this is Gina, Brandon & Kyle

let's just say that these boys were raised in the city

they had no service on their phones ~ no wifi ~ 2 channels on the tv

they were lost

and I think the cottage is a little but too rustic for them

but all in all we had a good time

Our cousin Anne came down on Saturday for another visit

then that night we made a big bonfire ~ roasted hot dogs and marshmallows

we watched the sandpipers take flight on the beach

climbed rocks ~ walked through fields ~ visited the farm

and told stories to the boys 

I love how the sweet william is still blooming at the farm

the following weekend my God daughter Jillian was married

I will do an entire wedding post because I am so happy for this one

I am so proud

then the next weekend was the giant flea market in Sussex

which we always go with #thebestneighboursever

and although we did not bring a lot home ~ we had fun

this past weekend Trevor worked charter both days

driving bus to shuttle people back and forth to the airport as we had an air show

then a family gathering on Sunday for his side which he couldn't attend but I did

I thought I would find it hard being at the camp

but I think him not being there made it easier for me as in my state of denial

I put both him and his Dad off somewhere together

I know when it finally does hit me it will be like a landslide

and I am bracing myself for it

I hope your summer has been full of sunshine and rain showers

smiles and tears of happiness not sorrow

I will be around to visit ~ I have been reading all summer 

trying to keep up

vacation starts on Friday and I for one am ready

xoxo

Seasons Change

Last Sunday we drove down to the cape

to close up the cottage for the season

I love living in a place where there are 4 distinct seasons
and I can see the differences as each one arrives

with Spring brings hope ~ new life

things turning green

melting snow ~ warmer weather

then comes Summer ~ sunshine ~ vacation

beach time ~ dinner on the patio
longer days ~ beautiful blossoms everywhere and 

new memories being made

with Autumn it is warm days and cooler nights

crunchy leaves and sweaters
and the colour show is breathtaking

skipping over Winter right now ~ not my favourite for sure

although I could not image a Christmas without snow...

so closing up the cottage makes me sad in one way

sad that summer is over but when I sat down to write in the guestbook

I smiled at all the entries ~ people that have walked through the door this year

good times with good friends

it's a long weekend for us
so as of 6 tonight ~ I have 3 days off
it is Thanksgiving here in Canada
so we will gather at the inlaws camp on Sunday and give thanks and eat turkey
then to Mom's on Monday for a ham dinner

yes ~ we are blessed.

Summer Wrapup

With tomorrow being the first day of fall

I thought it fitting to do an end of the summer wrap up today

instead of my usual Friday post

this summer was love ~ no matter how you slice it

looking back we did not do a whole lot 

but what we did do ~ was done with the sun shining on our faces

and love in our hearts

June brought middle school graduation

a junior prom and gorgeous pink peonies

along with trips to the cottage ~ rhubarb from the farm

and wildflowers

July was walks down old familiar roads

the views that fill my heart

sun shining through the trees

and a visit to the past

We kicked August off at the cottage with the best neighbours ever

we walked the beach, roasted marshmallows

went exploring and I had so much fun showing them the places that I love

Vacation was incredible ~ we made some new memories

with family at the camp ~ love these reunions

and spent some quality time with the girls

and our friends too

Labour Day weekend was back to the cottage

finishing off vacation right before getting back into the swing of things

called routine and September.

I loved going back through the pictures from over the past 3 months

and I hope you enjoy the ones I chose and put together to share.

Have a wonderful weekend.

xo

Saying Goodbye to August

I love taking vacation in late August

as there are still plenty of warm days and cooler nights

Friday morning we packed up ~ picked up Mom

and headed to the cottage

she has had some health issues over the summer

and could not get down for more than a day trip

so she was tickled pink to be able to come down and just get out of the house

for an entire weekend

Saturday we woke up to warm weather ~ blue skies

it was a beautiful day

I can't believe I got this shot

this is my little dragonfly that I call Dad

for the last few years whenever we are at the cottage

there is always one dragonfly nearby

when we are doing any kind of work or just sitting around doing nothing

it is around

I believe that it is my Daddy keeping an eye on things

and loving it when we come down to spend some time

this little guy was growing up through the gravel on the old road

isn't nature awesome!

Mom and I sat outside and played rummy for most of the afternoon

then I kicked back and read a bit ~ it was heaven

teal toes for September!

that night the tide came in ~ it was like glass

we enjoyed some fireworks compliments of our neighbours down the road

and then a little bonfire back at our place

Sunday brunch was prepared in my ebelskiver pan

impressed my Mama I did and they were yummy

this is little's perch ~ she thinks she is part cat

and pretty smart as she can see out to the yard and into the woods

we packed up and headed home Sunday afternoon

as I wanted a full day at home before returning to work today

it was a great end to vacation!

There is still a couple weeks of summer left so I am not ready

to put away those flip flops yet ~ but I am also looking forward to getting creative

spending some times indoors 

and putting the oven on again!

Are you ready to say goodbye to summer?

This is August...

it is Tuesday morning after a long weekend

and I am sitting here going through the pictures I took this weekend

while we were at the cottage

we could not have ordered nicer weather

we had company with us this time around as thebestneighboursever

joined us on Saturday and Sunday

we had a blast ~ we really did

after supper Saturday night we walked the old road and then came

back up the beach ~ the dogs were in their happy zone

and we were looking for beach glass and heart shaped rocks

I love the old cottages on the shoreline ~ there are not many left

but the ones that are there make me smile

Saturday night we had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows

it was a great day

Sunday after brunch we all piled into the truck as I wanted to take them

down to Slack's Cove ~ it is such a beautiful spot

and should you not share your favourite places so others can enjoy them too?

this is Cathy & Colin

it was also our anniversary so Trev had bought me some roses

I could not bare to leave them home so I brought them with me

he still makes my heart happy

on Monday they were calling for a chance of thunder showers

all around us ~ I could not get enough of the clouds

big white puffy pieces of cotton all around us

I could hear thunder off in the distance a few times

but we never got any rain at all

hammock time was the plan for Monday 

while I wandered around with my camera

so with coffee in hand ~ I am planning my day

extra days off do not come around that often ~ so I want to make sure

that I fit in as much as I can

vacation is not far away so I will keep my eye on that prize!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend

and to my friends in Canada ~ I hope you had a safe and happy

long weekend.

xo